FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 6, 2010

Josh Richards Pads World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Lead with Third Place Run in Tazewell Speedway Debut

SHINNSTON, W. Va. - A solid debut run at the high banked Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway on Saturday night helped Josh Richards pad his lead in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points standings.

One night after seeing his series lead slip to just 18 points, Richards roared back with a third place finish in Tazewell's Coca Cola 50 to double his advantage over fellow former series champion Tim McCreadie. The defending WoO LMS titlist from Shinnston, W.Va., set fast time and won a heat before moving forward from the sixth starting spot to secure a podium finish at the tough, blazing fast Volunteer State track with his Mark Richards Racing Enterprises/Seubert Calf Ranches Rocket No. 1.

"I really enjoyed it," Richards said of the first competitive visit to Tazewell of his young dirt late model career. "It would definitely be hard to race (at Tazewell) all the time because it's so fast and hard on equipment, but it's a fun track. I think our success in the past at Eldora (Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio) really helped us because (Tazewell) drives really similar even though it's more of a bowl.

"Coming in blind, I'm thrilled with a third," he added. "(Shane) Clanton (the race winner) and (Steve) Francis (the runner up) had a softer left rear tire than us and I think that helped them a little. I think if we could've gone 30 or 40 laps straight we might have had something for them because I saw that Clanton's tire was pretty chopped up and ours still looked like new, but I'm happy with third."

The Tazewell run capped a steady holiday weekend in Tennessee for the 22 year old Richards, who scored a sixth place finish (after starting seventh) in Friday night's inaugural 50 lap WoO LMS A-Main at Wartburg Speedway. McCreadie won that event to shave 12 points off Richards' series lead, but McCreadie's 12th place finish at Tazewell allowed Richards to rebuild his edge to 36 points after 24 of 48 scheduled events on the 2010 schedule.

Richards kicked off his weekend running the Ernie Davis owned Rocket No. 25 on Thursday night in a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at Beckley (W.Va.) Motor Speedway. He set fast time and won a heat race but fell short of sweeping the program, finishing third in the 50 lap feature.

Next up for Richards and the WoO LMS is the four race Wild West Tour. The series will first head to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn., on July 7. followed by Superior (Wis.) Speedway on July 8; River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, N.D., on July 9; and Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D., on July 10. Richards won WoO LMS shows at both River Cities and Dakota State Fair Speedway in 2009.

For more information on Josh Richards, visit www.joshrichards.com and follow him on Twitter at @Josh_Richards1.

Josh Richards' No. 1 team carries support from Rocket Chassis, Cornett Racing Engines, Seubert Calf Ranches, Ernie D's Enterprises, ACE Metal Works, Petroff Towing, Tony Stewart Racing, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Integra Shocks, Slavic Custom Decals, Valvoline, AEM, AFCO, ATL Fuel Cells, Aurora Bearing Company, Autolite, Banshee Graphics, Barnes Systems, Beyea Performance, Brinn Transmissions, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Braswell Carburetion, Butlerbuilt Seat Systems, CV Products, Dohm Cycles, Dyer's Top Rods, Fram Filters, Frankland Rearends, Howe Racing, Kwik Change Product, LSI, Mason Racin', MSD Ignition, Outerwears, Performance Bodies, Performance Friction Brakes, Performance Rod & Custom, Ringers Gloves, Scott Performance Wire, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Manufacturing, Tel Tech, TWM Racing Products, Trick Carbon Fiber Driveshafts, Jones Racing Products, TurboStart Racing Batteries, US Brake, Weld Racing Wheels, Wehr's Machine, Wilwood and Wrisco Aluminum.